Tejas crash in Dubai may damage India’s air force reputation and its defense exports, writes The Economic Times

The crash of the Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter jet during the Dubai Airshow may undermine the export prospects of weapons offered by the South Asian republic on the global market, The Economic Times writes.

The development of this Indian fighter jet, which had been accompanied by delays and technical issues, had nonetheless demonstrated the country’s success in producing modern weaponry. The Tejas was showcased in Dubai with the aim of selling it to foreign buyers. Now, however, the crash may hinder its export potential and has already damaged the reputation of India’s Air Force.

India had been offering this inexpensive aircraft for purchase to Armenia, Egypt, and Southeast Asian countries, and was also ready to share aviation technologies with them.

The Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter jet, which crashed on Friday in Dubai during a demonstration flight, was performing an aerobatic maneuver. Specialists believe that the cause of the crash may have been a loss of balance. The jet’s pilot was killed.

In the 2024–2025 fiscal year (which ended on March 31), India exported weapons to 80 countries totaling more than 230.6 billion rupees (approximately $2.76 billion). According to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the output of India’s defense industry has already surpassed $12 billion, placing the country among the world’s top 25 arms exporters.

In the 2028–2029 fiscal year, the annual total output of the country’s defense industry is projected to reach $36 billion, with defense exports estimated at $6 billion.